Coalition backs claim ASIO was hacked

The new ASIO building sits along Parkes Way in the federal capital of Canberra. Photo: Lannon Harley

John Kerin

The Coalition has lent support to a Four Corners report that Chinese hackers stole blueprints for the new $630 million Australian Security Intelligence Organisation headquarters.

The Coalition also attacked the federal government’s management of national security in parliamentary question time. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott raised concerns ASIO had been forced to wind back its overseas operations because of funding constraints.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the opposition was using national security as a “plaything” and said its questions showed Mr Abbott was unfit to lead.

She said she stood by her initial comments condemning the Four ­Corners program as containing unsubstantiated allegations.

Earlier, shadow attorney-general George Brandis challenged Ms ­Gillard’s claims the ABC report was wrong, following a briefing on the report from ASIO Director-General David Irvine.

“She dismissed the allegations on the Four Corners program as being inaccurate, and that statement is wrong,” Senator Brandis told Sky News.

Senator Brandis appeared to confirm the Four Corners claims when he said on Wednesday “these events did take place some time ago”.

“They were dealt with by ASIO. I am reassured by the director-general about the way in which they were dealt with by ASIO,” he told Sky News.

Asked if he was confirming Chinese hackers were behind the ASIO cyber theft, Senator Brandis refused to ­elaborate. He said he would not go into specifics.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said Senator Brandis showed a disregard for national security by talking to the media following a confidential briefing.

But he said he had a level of confidence in ASIO and Mr Irvine and was reassured the matter had been dealt with.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese admonished Senator Brandis for talking about a briefing with the ASIO head. Mr Albanese said he was “pretty surprised” the opposition’s legal spokesman was talking so openly about national security matters.

Opposition attack on spy agency funding

The opposition also stepped up its attack on the government over spy agency funding on Wednesday after a claim by Labor backbencher and chairman of Parliament’s joint intelligence committee Anthony Byrne that having to pay a public service efficiency dividend was hampering the ability of agencies to do their jobs.

Mr Abbott asked the Prime Minister if she agreed with findings in a committee report that ASIO had been forced to curtail its overseas operations.

But Ms Gillard stood by her earlier comments that ASIO funding had increased 27 per cent since Labor came to government and ASIO staffing by 32 per cent.

A cyber intrusion against a site contractor’s computer systems was traced to a server in China.

The program also found government and business in Australia was under heavier attack than previously admitted.

The Defence Department, Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the ­Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had all faced sustained hacking operations.

Mr Dreyfus earlier refused to ­comment on the blueprints claim and suggested delays in the construction of the imposing new building, which overlooks Lake Burley Griffin in ­Canberra, were not due to security breaches.

The building’s construction is 12 months behind schedule and up to $170 million over budget.

One intelligence source said it was possible an early draft of the ­building plans was stolen, making design changes possible ahead of the build.

A Chinese government foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei labelled the allegations as “groundless’’.

“China opposes all forms of hacker attacks,’’ he said.

“Though these reports seem solid, given it is difficult to find the origin of such hacker attacks. I don’t see where the real evidence is for reports like this,” he said.